CLEVELAND – The Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) is proud to announce the members of the 23^rd Annual Scholar-Athlete Team. In addition, the association selected a men's and women's scholar-athlete of the year and two postgraduate scholarship recipients.
 
"It gives us immense pride to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our men's and women's scholar-athlete teams this year," stated Division I-AAA ADA President and Director of Athletics at Loyola University Chicago, Steve Watson. "These students exemplify the perfect balance between academic and athletic commitment. The dedication of these students enhances the core values that we aim to foster in college athletics. In addition, the postgraduate scholarships we provide are another opportunity for us to home in on their extraordinary accomplishment."
 
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious annual awards. Each of the nominees is required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominees must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, individuals must have reached junior academic standing at their respective institution (ineligible athletics transfers are not eligible).

Scholar-Athletes of the Year

Additionally, one male and one female student-athlete are annually selected as the Division I- AAA ADA Scholar-Athletes of the Year. This year, both the male and female recipients are from Creighton University, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Morgan Maly.
 
Kalkbrenner is a graduate student that is studying management with a 3.37 GPA. He is a three-time member of the DI-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete team, a postgraduate scholarship recipient, and a multiple recipient of BIG East All-Academic honors, dean's list, NABC Honors Court and earned the 2022-23 Carl M. Reinert SJ Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Kalkbrenner started every game this season, averaging 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds. 
 
Maly is an exercise science major with a pre-med minor who has a 3.93 GPA. Through the year, she has been a CSC Academic All-America selection, is a two-time DI-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete and posted a 4.0 GPA eight times during her career. On the year, she played in all 33 games, averaging 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.  

Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients

In addition to being named the Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Morgan Maly is also the recipient of the $5,000 scholarship for her postgraduate studies. Maly finished second overall in Creighton history with 2,072 points, is the record holder for free-throw percentage at 87.8% (223-of-254).
 
On the men's side, Filip Skobalj, from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), is the $5,000 postgraduate scholarship recipient. Throughout his time at UIC, Skobalj recorded a cumulative 4.0 GPA as a management major and international business minor. He has earned numerous academic honors, including becoming just the second three-time All-MVC academic honoree. He also earned DI-AAA ADA Academic honors a year ago. This season, Skobalj started in all 31 games, averaging 8.9 points and had a .40% three-point field goal percentage.